Millcreek City Journal | December 2020

December 2020 | Vol. 02 Iss. 12

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MILLCREEK YOUTH WORKS TOWARD DREAM OF BECOMING A DOCTOR

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

C

ottonwood High senior Will Sintyl has big dreams.

When his mom had health problems, Sintyl and his twin sister Kiki came to live with family in Utah. He’s worked hard to get on the honor roll, and the twins have flourished in Cottonwood’s ESL program. His hard work was recognized when Sintyl was recommended for a coveted place at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders at Harvard this past spring.

“The Congress was a three-day event, and there were only a few other students from Utah there. To be accepted, you have to be recommended by a teacher. So, it was a surprise to me. I’ve always loved serving people and wanted to be a doctor,” Sintyl said.

At the congress, high school students attend workshops and hear “grandmaster” speakers. Speakers include winners of the Nobel Prize and recipients of the National Medal of Science. Students are given advice on what to expect in a program by deans from top medical schools.

“After all the workshops and seminars, I felt that I really want to be a cardiologist. And I thought, ‘I can do this,’” Sintyl said.

Cottonwood counselor Lorraine Behling is a site coordinator for the Utah State University STARS GEAR UP! Continued page 6

Cottonwood High senior Will Sintyl shows off his certificate from a national medical congress to two of his biggest fans, principal Terri Roylance (L) and counselor Lorraine Behling (R). (Photo courtesy Will Sintyl)

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December 2020 | Page 3

Three charter schools nearby—is one of them right for your student?

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

C

harter schools are free public schools.

They fulfill the requirements of the core curriculum, but can incorporate different teaching philosophies and emphasize certain subjects. Class sizes are similar to public schools, and teachers are licensed or working toward licensure.

Charter schools are attractive, but their enrollment is limited, and their cultures aren’t the right fit for everyone. Here is information on three local area charter schools.

Wasatch Waldorf Charter School, 1458 E. Murray-Holladay Road Wasatch Charter School is a K-8 school based on the Waldorf education method. The school’s executive director, Emily Merchant, wanted her three daughters to attend a Waldorf school. When she couldn’t find one, she worked to create one, with the caveat that it be public. It opened in 2016.

Students at Wasatch spend a lot of time outdoors. The school describes the Waldorf teaching modality as “holistic,” with a “deep spiritual and philosophical basis, [and] attention to the whole, developing child.”

Gardening (their produce ends up in the lunchroom), bee keeping, music and handiwork are all part of the curriculum. The school recently installed solar panels.

The Wasatch lottery happens in February. To enter, go to their website, www. wasatchwaldorf.org, and click “enroll.”

Choose the school year and fill out the form with basic information for each student you want included in the lottery. Applicants who aren’t chosen are placed on a waiting list, and called if spots open during the year.

Wasatch’s dress code steers students away from clothing with graphics and logos.

It’s described in their online handbook.

Canyon Rim Academy, 3005 S. 2900 East Canyon Rim Academy is a K-6 charter

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school with about 500 students. CRA opened in 2007 in the old Canyon Rim Elementary School building. Parents who lived nearby were distraught when Granite School District announced the elementary school would close. They applied for a charter to create a new school using the same space.

CRA emphasizes core curriculum, liberal arts and service learning. They provide music, art and drama. Principal Kent Fuller and social worker Suzy Tidwell both have experience in Granite School District. CRA also has a special ed team.

CRA’s lottery can only be done in person in the office. The school hosts an open house in October, and after that, it takes lottery applications on a rolling basis. New placements are made monthly as spots become available.

The dress code at CRA is similar to most private schools, with specifics on their website www.canyonrimacademy.com. The purpose of the dress code is “to ensure that the learning environment is free of distractions.”

Academy for Math Engineering and Science, 5715 S. 1300 East (inside Cottonwood High School) AMES is a charter high school created in 2003 for students in grades 9-12. The attraction of AMES is getting early college credit.

The website www.ames-slc.org clarifies that aim. “One of the principles of [our] early college program is that students may earn an associate degree or up to two years of transferable college credit. Students may earn up to 43 semester hours of University of Utah credit while attending AMES, which is the equivalent of two years of college.”

AMES has a relationship with the U of U, and also with Cottonwood High School, which houses their campus. Students enrolled at AMES can participate in Cottonwood’s sports and extracurricular activities. They

In early March 2020, students at Wasatch Charter School celebrated the installation of solar panels on their school. Living their curriculum is important to those at Wasatch. (Photo courtesy Wasatch Charter School)

can take classes offered through Cottonwood to “round out the total AMES experience.”

The dress code is the same as Cottonwood’s.

Students can apply for the AMES lottery between the beginning of January and the middle of February. The lottery is conducted at the end of February. Incoming freshman and upperclassmen are invited to apply. For information, call their office at 801-2789460.

By state law, the lottery process at any charter school is intended to be a random

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selection. However, most schools give preference for the following circumstances: siblings of students currently enrolled, children of employees and proximity to school. Unsuccessful lottery applications need to be resubmitted each year.

Students who enroll in a charter school need to provide these documents when registering: registration forms, original birth certificate, current immunization records, special education information if applicable and proof of custody/guardianship if applicable. l

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Millcreek City Journal

School communications director recognized for dedication and public service

By Katy Whittingham | k.whittingham@mycityjournals.com

U

tah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind PIO and Communications Director Susan Thomas received the 2020 Governor’s Award of Excellence for Outstanding Public Service.

Superintendent of USDB Joel Coleman nominated her for the award because of her dedication to the education of Utah’s children who are deaf or blind and their families.

“Susan has been a game changer at USDB,” Coleman said. “Previously, we were

concerned that there were students throughout the state who were still not getting adequate services if they were deaf, blind or deaf-blind. Although we have good partnerships with other school districts and social services, some families do not realize the excellent system we have to help them in Utah.”

Thomas was actually one of these people herself. She has a son with hearing loss, and they struggled throughout his entire K-12 education without any awareness about the

services from USDB. Her mission of spreading the word is a personal one, as well.

"Working at USDB feels more like a joy than a job,” Thomas said. “The students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired or deaf-blind are pretty awesome and lucky me, I have been able to meet and work with so many of them. I'm impressed by their beautiful personalities, their bold courage and their many abilities.”

Coleman said that in addition to her personal experience, Thomas is a talented, experienced, and highly successful communications professional. “Her innovative approach and her tireless work ethic, combined with her willingness to work with every individual at USDB has made all the difference,” he said. Thomas spent years as a news reporter and anchor before deciding to pursue public relations. "I've worked for such a variety of good causes, it has been such a blessing, from the Kimball Art Center, to the American Red Cross, I even served as a weekend PIO for the Utah Highway Patrol troopers for a few years,” Thomas said.

"I was very surprised and honored to learn Superintendent Joel Coleman nominated me for this award, but I feel like he is the one who really deserves the award. When it comes to the importance of PR, social media, and storytelling, he gets it,” Thomas

said. She also credits Todd Keith, the USDB Media Production Specialist, as an especially talented photographer and coworker. Keith said of Thomas, “Susan is the hardest working person I have ever met. She is very deserving of this award.”

Thomas has worked for USDB since January 2018. When not working she loves to swim laps or ski the Cirque at Snowbird with her husband Joe Ozimek and two sons, John Luke and Joey. l

Susan Thomas of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind and her family. (Photo courtesy Susan Thomas)

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Continued from front page program. She used the program to help Sintyl receive funding that covered the cost of the congress.

“This was life-changing for me, and my family has been so supportive. Even though the event had to be virtual this year, I loved learning about Harvard. I want to attend there,” Sintyl said.

Nancy Veit is a close friend of the Sintyl family and a nurse practitioner. She believes Sintyl not only has the intelligence to become a physician, but he has something more—ambition and drive.

“He’s so bright and so quick. Intelligence is one thing, but what will always make the difference is your focus and ability to work. He has that persistence and drive for perfection. If he gets a 90% on a test, he retakes it if he can. They are both smart and courageous kids,” Veit said.

Veit marvels at the progress the twins have made, and laughs about their communication efforts when they first moved to the Millcreek area.

“They are both wonderful students, but they came to this country not speaking English. Their native language is Haitian Creole, and they speak French and a little Spanish. We were using phone translations the first few months they were here, which was pretty hilarious,” Veit said.

Sintyl is preparing for a pharmacy tech program, something his sister-in-law Shar-

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la Sintyl helped him find. He said the support of family in Utah and Haiti has meant a lot to him.

“I have teachers who really believe in me, and they helped me with this program.

And my family is the biggest support. They are pushing me to try new things; they support me in whatever I do,” Sintyl said.

Cottonwood’s principal Terri Roylance loves that Sintyl is being recognized for his efforts. “He is an outstanding young man in every way. His twin sister Kiki is equally wonderful. “[Sintyl] is very goal-oriented and wants to go to medical school. I have no doubt that this will happen for him. I’m so proud of him. He represents himself, his family and our school in an exemplary way,” Roylance said.

Sintyl hopes he can show people that when you have a dream, no matter how big, with hard work and the right support you can make it happen.

“My advice for all the teenagers that are coming up in this generation is that the hardest things in life are the ones that are most worth it in the end,” Sintyl said. “Especially if you are struggling with depression and anxiety, this is part of life. You can face it. You can do anything you want, you can become whatever you want to be.

If you can dream it, you can become it.” l

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School bus drivers are recognized for transporting students safely each day

By Darrell Kirby | dkirby@mycityjournals.com

INTEGRITY. EXPERTISE.

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hey crisscross Millcreek every school day—the yellow buses that transport thousands of students to Granite School District schools and other private and charter learning institutions.

Except for rare instances, the drivers of those buses get kids to and from school safely and without accident. And this year, they have also been tasked with ensuring their young passengers are kept safe from COVID-19 while in their vehicles.

The work of school bus drivers was highlighted during an event at Granger High School recently as part of School Bus Safety Week.

“They have difficult jobs and the pandemic has made it even more challenging, but they have conscientiously adapted and regularly update procedures to keep students safe,” said state Rep. Elizabeth Weight (D-West Valley City), who sponsored a resolution during the 2020 legislative session to call attention to the professionalism of school bus drivers throughout Utah.

Specifically, the resolution “recognizes school bus drivers for their exemplary work” that includes: • Driving a school bus while navigating road and weather hazards; • Inspecting school buses to ensure the safety of the students who ride the bus; • Identifying signs of sexual harassment, bullying, and other abuse; • Communicating with the parents of students who ride the bus; • Helping students with medical needs and disabilities; • Performing all of their duties and responsibilities while avoiding distractions.

In the Granite School District, about 130 buses take some 8,200 students to and from 86 elementary, junior high, and high schools each day. Hundreds of students are also transported throughout the year to various sporting and extracurricular activities both in and out of the district. Transportation director Dave Gatti says it takes a Herculean effort carried out by a staff of 180 full-time and substitute drivers, plus dispatchers, mechanics, and other support staff.

Added to the job this year has been the constant cleaning and sanitizing of each bus and ensuring masks are worn by everyone on board to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission among students and drivers. “We haven’t had

MillcreekJournal .com

Granite School District transportation director Dave Gatti praises the work of school bus drivers. (Courtesy Granite School District)

Students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a bus instead of traveling by car.

NHTSA website

an outbreak” of the virus on buses, Gatti said. That doesn’t mean that all drivers and passengers have been free of COVID-19, but he says there is no indication they have contracted or spread the disease while riding the bus.

Before, during, and after the pandemic, Gatti says the goal of everyone in the district’s transportation department has been and will continue to be to move kids without accidents. “Very, very seldom do we see an accident as a result of a school bus driver being at fault,” he said, adding that Granite District buses travel 2 million miles a year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says children are far safer going to school on a bus. “Students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a bus instead of traveling by car,” according to the NHTSA website. “That’s because school buses are the most regulated vehicles on the road; they’re designed to be safer than passenger vehicles in preventing crashes and injuries.”

Ultimately, Gatti says buses are only as safe as the men and women operating them. “Our drivers are nothing

short of heroes.” transported throughout the year to various sporting and extracurricular activities both in and out of the district. Transportation director Dave Gatti says it takes a Herculean effort carried out by a staff of 180 full-time and substitute drivers, plus dispatchers, mechanics, and other support staff.

Added to the job this year has been the constant cleaning and sanitizing of each bus and ensuring masks are worn by everyone on board to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission among students and drivers. “We haven’t had an outbreak” of the virus on buses, Gatti said.

That doesn’t mean that all drivers and passengers have been free of COVID-19, but he says there is no indication they have contracted or spread the disease while riding the bus.

Before, during, and after the pandemic, Gatti says the goal of everyone in the district’s transportation department has been and will continue to be to move kids without accidents. “Very, very seldom do we see an accident as a result of a school bus driver being at fault,” he said, adding that Granite District buses travel 2 million miles a year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says children are far safer going to school on a bus. “Students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a bus instead of traveling by car,” according to the NHTSA website. “That’s because school buses are the most regulated vehicles on the road; they’re designed to be safer than passenger vehicles in preventing crashes and injuries.”

Ultimately, Gatti says buses are only as safe as the men and women operating them. “Our drivers are nothing short of heroes.” l

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December 2020 | Page 7

One submission included a picture of local chalk art. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Barr)

Kids make history with COVID Memory Project

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

W

hat was daily life like for kids living through the last global pandemic? We don’t really know.

“There are very few written accounts of the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic; we have pictures, but very few accounts of how people handled their regular lives,” Copper Hills High history teacher Lorna Murray said. “We are not going to make that mistake again. Personal accounts are essential for understanding not only the past, but also the present when the past gets repeated, such as this pandemic. Hopefully, a pandemic is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We must leave a better record behind us than what we got in 1918.”

Murray assigned her history students last spring and again this fall to share their personal experiences of living through this COVID-19 pandemic with The Utah Division of State History. Historical Collections Curator Lisa Barr is heading up a collection of primary source accounts from K-12 students. Young people are invited to share their pandemic experience—how it has affected their school, family, extracurricular activities and lifestyle. Kids can answer a questionnaire or submit journal entries, artwork or photographs which will all become part of a permanent collection in the state archives.

“We have access and ability to collect this info in a way they couldn’t 100 years ago,” Barr said. “Technology has so much to do with the way we're navigating the pandemic and kids are very savvy to that.”

Barr said the responses, which have come from children and teens across the state, have varied widely and are representative of how the pandemic is affecting them differently. The mood of the entries has var-

Page 8 | December 2020

ied, from the shock of changes in spring to the “new normal” by autumn. Some express frustration, others optimism.

A 12 year old wrote:“We’ve had to wear masks now. And we have had a ton of deaths.

I didn’t leave my house to do anything except go on a walk or bike ride with my family. It was weird being home so much.”

A 14 year old wrote: “I have many negative impacts from the pandemic, but I think that the biggest impacts on me are isolation from friends and extended family members, as well as cancellation of sports, clubs, and school. I could go on and on but I think that it is safe to say that the pandemic is one of the worst and best things I have experienced.”

Common themes in submissions so far have been students missing teachers, friends and family and missing out on end-of-theyear school activities and family traditions.

One child shared: “Before the pandemic I would play baseball every Friday, Saturday or Sunday. And if I got lucky, all three days in a row...I still play baseball, but only with my parents. We go to empty parks and stay at least six feet away from people and it’s still fun...My family and I would go to a Dodgers game once a year, it's kinda like a tradition but this will be the first year in a long time we won’t be able to go.”

A 12 year old wrote: “During quarantine my grandparents would do drive-by visits. We also did some door drop-off surprises for my cousins. We did lots of Facetime and texting. Once we were free to get out of our houses, we did a lot of activities together. I missed seeing my grandparents and cousins.”

Students have also shared how they’re discovering things about themselves they

A family shows what school looks like for them during distance learning. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Barr)

wouldn’t have known—like learning better online or strengthening family relationships.

“I have been learning how to cook more complex meals...and I’ve been getting more into art recently,” said one child.

A teenager wrote: “I have recently started learning how to play the ukulele again.

I have also learned some new tricks on the trampoline. I think that I have gotten better with house chores.”

Another wrote: “I’ve been a better person then I could’ve been. I’ve learned to get along with my little brothers. I’ve also had lots of time to spend with my big brother and we talked a lot. I enjoyed being with my family.”

Barr said this project gets kids excited about history.

“A lot of time, in order to get history to matter for people, you have to make it personal and so this is a great opportunity to do that,” Barr said.

Joy Anderson, who teaches U.S. history at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, agrees.

“It is always beneficial to have a perspective that students can truly relate to,” Anderson said. "If they see something from someone their own age, they always pay more attention to it than an adult's perspective.”

Anderson, who also assigned her students to submit entries for the collection, said her students will someday be answering these questions for their children or grandchildren for their history class. She said it is almost impossible to find primary sources from a young person's perspective for her class content so a collection of this kind will be helpful for future teachers.

So, in 100 years, students will be able to study this entry written by a 13 year old in the early months of the pandemic: “We have to be by each other all the time. My older sister and I try to hide in our rooms as much as we can. I also try to go outside and swing alone. I play a lot of video games or watch TV….People don’t visit each other anymore in my neighborhood. It has affected our state

Millcreek City Journal

The Utah Radon Coalition

WHO WE ARE!

The Utah Radon Coalition (URC) is Utah’s only all volunteer, non-profit provider of radon awareness, advocacy and community service programs. Members and friends of the URC include physicians and other health care providers; health education specialists; organizations such as AARP Utah; The Utah Medical Association; and The Huntsman Cancer Institute and perhaps most importantly, citizens of Utah who are either survivors of radon induced lung cancer or are or have been caregivers for patients of radon induced lung cancer.

Many families participated in community strengthening activities this spring such as window decorating. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Barr)

because we can’t go to school or church so a lot of people just stay home all day.”

Some entries provided advice to future generations facing a pandemic: “It changes your life. You realize all the blessings you have and are thankful for your health. I believe it’s a great thing that happened to slow us down in life.”

“I would want future generations to know that something like this truly changes your life! To experience something like this, well, it is really tough. It’s not easy. But, I do think maybe this will shape my future in a good way. So, never give up!”

“Sure we have to wear a mask but it does not mask who we are or how we act.

Some people exaggerate corona just a little bit, just a little...If people like me look on the bright side and see things from a different point of view, we realize that we are ok. We still get to do fun things and we can still learn things like normal.”

Barr said they will collect submissions as long as the pandemic continues. The submissions will be digitized and stored as part of a special collections archive which will be available for public research or, possibly, a public special exhibit in the future. l

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Millcreek City Journal

MILLCREEK HAS A

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he Brickyard Bar has been working hard this year to up the dining and drinks ante in the Millcreek and Sugarhouse area, while maintaining a casual atmosphere- starting with Chef Erik Daniels. Erik knew he wanted to be a chef at the early age of 17. He worked at several well known restaurants until he met Ryan Lowder, owner of the Copper Onion.

Lowder saw Erik’s potential and mentored him to become a chef. He worked there for 3 years and climbed the ranks to Sous Chef. He then took a position at the beloved farm-to-table restaurant Avenues Bistro on Third. “I learned a lot about being a chef at that job, maybe more failures than successes, but definitely some successes!” Daniels said. After a couple years of working the foodie scene around Salt Lake, he landed at Proper as a Chef de Cuisine. “I worked with the brewery to make great beer pairings and upscale pub fare. I’ve helped put many staple items on their menus (that are still on the menu), and I did my part to improve the local dining scene”.

Now that Chef Daniels is running the kitchen at The Brickyard Bar he has full control to make his own menu, consisting of from-scratch pub favorites like Traeger smoked chicken wings, an unbelievable pot roast French dip, Wasatch Jalapeño cream ale battered cheese curds, and homestyle fried chicken and waffles on the brunch menu. Erik is passionate about his food and said, “I think good drinks need to be paired with great food, and good company. That’s why I’m happy to be a part of this family at The Brickyard Bar, and to help elevate the bar scene”. Erik has developed a cult-like following for his smoked wings and Brickyard Burger, which have local foodie bloggers visiting regularly.

The food has really helped the bar stay afloat during the pandemic, and has also helped support other local businesses, such as local Frog Bench Farms, where Brickyard Bar sources almost all of their produce.

The bar has been diligent about upholding cleaning standards during the pandemic - high ceilings, keeping the large garage door open (weather permitting), and the patio have made for a safe space to go out. The bar has curated an alcohol selection ranging from the classic domestic beers we all love, to sought-after scotches and whiskeys. The Brickyard Bar has become a local favorite for Millcreek residents, with the casual atmosphere, great beer and liquor selection, and of course the best lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch options a bar could offer.

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Millcreek City Journal

DO YOUR KIDS KNOW MORE ABOUT RADON THAN YOU? The winning radon poster backdrop for this ad says they do.

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Since the COVID-19 Since outbreak COVID-19 began, outbreak Grifols began, has Grifols made its hasexpertise made itsinexpertise plasma available in plasma toavailable the to FDA, the U.S. FDA, Since thethe COVID-19 outbreak began, Grifols has made its expertise in plasma toU.S. the Since the COVID-19 Since theoutbreak COVID-19 began, outbreak Grifols began, has made Grifols itshas expertise made its inexpertise plasma available in available plasma to available the U.S.U.S. FDA, toFDA, the U.S. FDA, BARDA and BARDA NIH/NIAID and NIH/NIAID to develop to clinical develop trials clinical to assess trials the to assess safety and the safety efficacy and of efficacy a potential of a treatment. potential treatment.

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At Grifols, we believe this current and extraordinary situation require companies to strive more than ever to BARDA and NIH/NIAID to develop clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of a potential treatment.

At Grifols, we At believe Grifols, this we believe current this andcurrent extraordinary and extraordinary situation require situation companies require to companies strive more to strive than ever more tothan ever through January 2021 the Utah Radon Coalition is providing serve serve and patients communities. and communities.

At Grifols, At weGrifols, believe we this believe current and current extraordinary and extraordinary situation require situation companies require companies to strive more to more strive than more ever to than serve patients and communities.

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STEP STEP 1 STEP 1 1 STEP 1 STEP 1 STEP 1antibodies STEP 1 antibodies Obtain from those whowho Obtain Obtain antibodies from those from those who

ObtainObtain antibodies antibodies from those from who those who Obtain antibodies from those whowho Obtain antibodies from those have recovered from COVID-19 have recovered have recovered from COVID-19 from COVID-19 NEW DONORS have recovered have recovered from COVID-19 from COVID-19 have recovered from COVID-19 have recovered from COVID-19 Human blood can be broken down into many parts like liquid plasma, which

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Human bloodHuman can beblood broken can down be broken into many down parts intolike many liquid parts plasma, like liquid which plasma, which Human blood Human can be broken blood can down be into broken many down parts into like many liquid parts plasma, like liquid which plasma, which contains antibodies.

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If you don't have your plasma donations are still to possibly helpisthem get back to life faster serveorasserve a temporary defense defense to possibly help them get back to life or faster as that a temporary have a consistent have a and consistent precise and dosing precise of the dosing antibodies of the that antibodies can fight COVID-19 can fight COVID-19 to possibly help to them possibly get help back them to life get faster back or to serve life faster as a temporary or serve as defense a temporary defense until auntil vaccine is developed. a vaccine is developed. needed to treat ais to multitude of illnesses. to possibly help to until possibly get help back them get life faster back to orlife serve faster as aortemporary serve as adefense temporary defense until a patients vaccine isthem developed. a with vaccine developed. until a vaccine until is a developed. vaccine is developed.

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Lawmakers approved increase to enrollment cap at Utah Virtual Academy as more students turn to online learning during COVID-19

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

M

urray-based Utah Virtual Academy extends to students statewide, so some numbers are harder to track, according to the school’s presentation made to the Utah State Board of Education in September.

Even so, the Board’s review panel could see the vast improvement the school has made.

“The State Review Panel concluded that Utah Virtual Academy (UTVA) would have achieved above the bottom 3% threshold for a second, consecutive year and exited School Turnaround,” it was stated. “The UTVA team presented positive qualitative and/or quantitative data from the implementation of its School Turnaround Plan regarding numbers of students taking the ACT, increasing graduation rates, numbers of different classes offered, and the retention of important staff.”

The School Turnaround and Leadership Development Act, passed by the Utah Legislature in 2015, is a state initiative that identifies low-performing schools as being in the bottom 3% of schools statewide for two consecutive years.

Those schools are provided outside resources and have three years to show improved academic achievement to exit out of the turnaround status.

“The improvement we’ve made has made us a better school,” UTVA Head of School Meghan Merideth said.

“We’ve set a long-term model of structure with the Utah Education Policy Center at the University of Utah and will be continuing with their support because there’s always room for improvement.”

In UTVA’s turnaround exit criteria presentation, it showed ACT participation more than doubled from 201516 through 2018-19, and the students’ scores have remained fairly consistent.

School officials also stated that logistics in administering the state year-end SAGE (now RISE) exam was difficult as students would need to travel to testing locations, in unfamiliar environments and some simply chose to opt out.

Furthermore, last spring’s soft closure, which directed in-person instruction to online because of the COVID-19 pandemic, postponed and canceled many statewide assessments, which are used to determine schools’ academic performance.

However, graduation rates have improved from 38.4% in 2017 to about 77% in 2020. Concurrent enrollment has improved from 12 credits in 2016-17 to around 400 credits the past two school years.

Staff retention also has improved, going from 82% in

Utah Virtual Academy, which at the start of the school year had a studentbody of more than 3,000 students, exits turnaround status during COVID-19 pandemic. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

2016-17 to 97% this current school year, which UTVA officials believe is less disruptive to the school environment.

According to the UTVA presentation, the top three reasons for students enrolling in the virtual school is to remove the students from bullying at traditional schools, decrease their anxiety levels and improve their health and safety.

This year, more students turned to UTVA as their educational option as an alternative to in-person education during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 1,500 K-12 students took advantage of the opportunity to enroll at Utah Virtual Academy once the Utah legislature authorized an increased enrollment cap for the online charter school in August.

UTVA’s studentbody, at more than 3,000 this fall, is almost half economically disadvantaged and just above half credit deficient upon enrolling. The stats reveal that 48% are mobile, with several homeless or experienced homelessness,

and 21% are students with disabilities, according to the statistics presented to the state board.

Since there was the disruption of many statewide assessments, the State School Board established a review board in April to evaluate schools’ data and make recommendations whether each school has demonstrated sufficient improvement to exit school turnaround status.

Schools presented responses to the Board's guiding questions: Did the school achieve above the lowest 3% threshold using the 2018-19 school accountability data/measures? Can the school provide evidence of substantial progress and growth in addition to the data in the accountability system? Does the school have qualitative and/or quantitative data from the implementation of its School Turnaround Plan that also demonstrates substantial improvement? l

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Senior Sierra Breitling (30) readies for her team’s serve against Maple Mountain. The Eagles won Region 6 finishing just ahead of contenders Brighton and Olympus. Leading the attack were sophomore Kira Little and junior Olivia Gloeckner with 174 and 163 kills respectively. Defensively saw senior Natalie Nabor lead the effort at the net with 58 blocks while the back end featured help from everywhere, none more so than junior Anna Rosse with 228 digs.

Millcreek City Journal

RETIRING SOON? Given the current economic & political climate, many people are worried about their future.

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Millcreek City Journal

A Dickens of a holiday

Life

Laughter AND

by

PERI KINDER

MILLCREEK

Like Mariah Carey, Christmas seems to bring out the best and the worst in people. You have some folks gathering presents, food, and cash for those down on their luck, and then you have people on video surveillance stuffing jars of sweet pickles down their pants at the grocery store.

Christmas is descending like a firebomb on families this year who have been sick, laid off or evicted. Rubbing Mediterranean Sea salt flakes into that wound, Hallmark Christmas movies are back.

Hallmark Christmas movies should come with an eye-roll rating. Two eye-rolls means a small-town doctor falls in love with a handsome (yet grumpy) big-city lawyer. Three eyerolls means a sick puppy was healed through a Christmas miracle involving an enchanted snow globe, a Nebraska blizzard and Angela Lansbury.

Not my cup of tea.

Give me “A Christmas Carol” any day.

With his black-and-white characters and punch-you-in-the-face symbolism, fans of Charles Dickens know his stories are never subtle. But you have to love a Christmas story that starts, “Marley was dead, to begin with.”

The story is about Ebenezer Scrooge and the Christmas Eve where he’s visited by spirits all night. (If I’m going to be visited by three Christmas spirits, they’d better be white wine, tequila, and Champagne. Not egg nog.

That’s the stuff of Christmas demons.)

Scrooge’s partner, Jacob Marley, is a spirit that first shows up as a brass doorknocker (like ya do) and visits Scrooge to give him a heads-up that ghosts will be stopping by to

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chat. Marley is awesome. I mean, who doesn’t want to be followed around by a dead business partner who’s wrapped in the ghostly chains of his unkind existence?

Scrooge “Bah humbugs” his way through that discussion before he jumps into his distinctly creepy four-poster bed.

Soon, the Ghost of Christmas Past floats into the room, with its face shining like LED headlights. It shows the Christmas memories that shaped Scrooge through joy and heartbreak, until his soul bent like a candy cane, starting his transition to the irritable Scrooge he is now. Ebenezer is all, “Cool, cool. Can I go back to bed now?”

Then the Ghost of Christmas Present shows up (looking a lot like Jeff Bridges in “The Big Lebowski”) and shows Scrooge what his acquaintances think of him. Sort of like a Victorian version of Twitter.

Scrooge sees the people who think he’s a greedy, grumpy old man (everyone) and although Mr. Christmas Present Ghost is a jolly guy, he opens his robe to show Scrooge two emaciated children, representing Ignorance and Want. (Trump tried to deport them last Christmas.)

Scrooge is apprehensive as he waits for the final spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Future. This is my favorite part of the story. The somber, black specter appears to Scrooge and makes the hair on my knuckles stand up. I love how the spirit only communicates through pointing, like a passive-aggressive teenager.

Scrooge sees his dead body, his headstone, and the callous lack of sympathy from those around him. He wakes up a new man,

changed into the world’s happiest old geezer, and buys a big turkey that some poor woman must prepare for dinner.

“A Christmas Carol” is a story of transformation that reminds us we’re all here to help each other. With the difficulties we’ve had this year, including Hallmark Christmas movies and Mariah Carey, it’s a good message to remember.

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December 2020 | Vol. 02 Iss. 12

FREE

MILLCREEK YOUTH WORKS TOWARD DREAM OF BECOMING A DOCTOR

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

C

ottonwood High senior Will Sintyl has big dreams.

When his mom had health problems, Sintyl and his twin sister Kiki came to live with family in Utah. He’s worked hard to get on the honor roll, and the twins have flourished in Cottonwood’s ESL program. His hard work was recognized when Sintyl was recommended for a coveted place at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders at Harvard this past spring.

“The Congress was a three-day event, and there were only a few other students from Utah there. To be accepted, you have to be recommended by a teacher. So, it was a surprise to me. I’ve always loved serving people and wanted to be a doctor,” Sintyl said.

At the congress, high school students attend workshops and hear “grandmaster” speakers. Speakers include winners of the Nobel Prize and recipients of the National Medal of Science. Students are given advice on what to expect in a program by deans from top medical schools.

“After all the workshops and seminars, I felt that I really want to be a cardiologist. And I thought, ‘I can do this,’” Sintyl said.

Cottonwood counselor Lorraine Behling is a site coordinator for the Utah State University STARS GEAR UP! Continued page 6

Cottonwood High senior Will Sintyl shows off his certificate from a national medical congress to two of his biggest fans, principal Terri Roylance (L) and counselor Lorraine Behling (R). (Photo courtesy Will Sintyl)

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